ORLANDO, Fla. – Central Florida is heading into one of its coldest stretches in years, with a rare hard freeze increasingly likely Sunday and Monday mornings.
After several days of very chilly conditions, a powerful surge of Arctic air is expected to arrive this weekend, bringing wind chills into the single digits for some.
WEDNESDAY & THURSDAY
Through the end of the workweek, nights remain cold with areas of frost and pockets of freezing temperatures, especially across inland neighborhoods.
Morning wind chills in the 20s and low 30s will make it feel even colder, while afternoon highs struggle to climb out of the 50s and 60s.
FRIDAY
Friday offers a brief break, with milder afternoon temperatures providing a short window to prepare for what’s coming next.
WEEKEND
The BIG cold-weather story begins Saturday night. As a rapidly strengthening storm system pulls away from Florida, strong northwest winds will drag Arctic air straight down the peninsula.
Temperatures will fall quickly overnight, setting the stage for widespread freezing conditions by daybreak Sunday.
Sunday morning is expected to be the coldest of this current stretch, with many likely dropping into the mid- to upper 20s. If these temperatures verify, it would meet the criteria for the threat of a hard freeze for most areas west of I-95.
Even folks along the coast will have the opportunity to dip to near freezing, while wind chills plunge into the teens and single digits across much of Central Florida.
Don’t expect much of a warmup through the day, with highs staying in the 40s under plenty of cold sunshine.
MONDAY
The cold does not end there. Another hard freeze is possible Monday morning, with temperatures again falling well below freezing across inland areas.
PREPARATIONS
Some locations may not see temperatures above freezing for 12 hours or more.
Preparations for this cold snap may need to go a step further than usual, given the higher likelihood of a hard freeze. Taking action now can help reduce damage and keep people and animals safe.
• Plants: Cover sensitive plants completely or move them indoors if possible.
• Pets: Bring pets indoors overnight.
• Pipes: Insulate exposed pipes and allow faucets to drip slowly overnight to reduce the risk of freezing.
• Pool Pumps: Run pool pumps overnight to keep water flowing, reducing risk of damage.